The Argus at KellyGang 19/3/1881 (2)
(2) that the proceedings should not be open to the press for though the full details of what the police have been doing should be known to the Government, it would be obviously contrary to public policy that they should be published for general information.
The report of the gentlemen making the inquiry should, I think, be all that should find its we into the hands of the public. It could of course, be made sufficiently full to satisfy the reasonable expectations of any persons unconnected with the force.
I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
FC STANDISH
Chief Commissioner of Police The Hon. the Chief Secretary
Police Department, Chief Commissioner's Office,
Melbourne, June 30,1880
Sir,-I have the honour respectfully to request that, before proceeding to acknowledge the services of those engaged in the destruction of the Kelly gang of out- laws, a searching inquiry be held into the whole circumstances and transactions of the police administration in the North-East district since the Kelly outbreak in October, 1878, and particularly into the circumstances of my recent withdrawal from that district.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
CH NICOLSON, Assistant Commissioner of Police.
To the Hon the Chief Secretary of Victoria
Police Department, Stawell, July 24, 1880
Sir,-With reference to my application for an inquiry into the whole proceedings of the police in re the Kelly gang, forwarded to you on or about the 1st inst., and to which I have received no answer, I have the honour to state that I am aware the Government have since been much occupied with important matters. But the recent publication of a report from Superintendent Hare, dated the 2nd inst, containing serious charges against me, compels me to bring the said application again under notice.
I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
CH NICOLSON
Assistant Commissioner of Police To the Chief Commissioner of Police, Melbourne
The Farm, Flemington, September 7 ,1880
Sir,-I have the honour to apologise for trespassing upon your time, and to express a hope that you will be good enough to peruse the following report -
In March, 1879, I arrived in Victoria from Queensland, and placed myself and men under Captain Standish, chief commissioner of police. He had me sworn in as an officer of the Victorian force. Captain Standish then sent me out in full charge of a party of police in quest of the Kelly outlaws. I requested to be allowed only two Victorian men to accompany my party, but the chief commissioner would not allow me to proceed with less than six. In one of our expeditions we received most reliable information in connexion with the outlaws, which the chief commissioner would not allow us to proceed with, but instantly ordered our return. About May, 1879, the chief commissioner began to show a degree of jealousy and dislike towards me. He ordered me to send my men to different localities, although my Government had ordered me not to do so. About this period, Captain Standish received some very good information, which, at the time, he only communicated to Superintendent Hare, who, some time after, told me that the information was that some men had been seen, whom the informer was confident were the Kellys, had gone to a hut, and if the police were sent they could be surrounded in the hut. I begged of the chief commissioner to allow myself and men to accompany the party going out, as the outlaws might got away before the police had time to reach the hut. Captain Standish said, "No; I will endeavour to get the Kellys without your assistance.” Mr. Hare, who went out in charge of the party, returned unsuccessful, as a man, having met the party on their way to the hut, rode on and warned the outlaws, and was ready to receive the police when they arrived some time after. This, you will see, was a certainty thrown away, as my men could have easily picked up the outlaws' tracks.
Upon the Lancefield bank robbery occurring, my men and myself proceeded there, and were mainly instrumental in having the robbers arrested. Sub-inspector Baber, of your force, can testify to this. Captain Standish never in any way acknowledged this service.
A private quarrel occurred between Mr Hare and myself altogether unconnected with official business, in which Captain Standish, who was not in any way concerned, took part against me, and carried it into official matters. He made a series of communications to the Queensland Government, tending to depreciate me, and to remove the men from my control and supervision. This was done without my knowledge, I and, consequently, I had no opportunity of explanation to my commissioner. My Government ultimately acceded to the request of Captain Standish, and informed him that he was at liberty to have one of my men for permanent service in Victoria. Upon this Captain Standish had the man taken out of my party and attached to his police, although he (Captain Standish) still required our services. For the discourteous manner in which this was done my Government requested our immediate return, and, upon this being conveyed to me, I left Benalla for Essendon on the morning of the 25th June, 1880.
On the Sunday following, the 27th of June, at half past 7 pm, I received a note (attached below) from Captain Standish, containing information of Sherritt's murder near Beechworth. Now, although I had received but scant courtesy, having received no communication from the Victorian authorities beyond the order to leave Benalla and return to Queensland as soon as convenient, I acceded to the chief commissioner's request, and waited upon him, and arranged to leave Essendon at 10 o'clock that evening with my men, for Beechworth. We left Essendon at quarter post 10 pm, arriving at Benalla about 1a.m., and at Glenrowan about 3 am Mr. Hare and myself were considering the best course to adopt, when Constable Bracken rushed down on the platform and gave us the information that the outlaws were in Jones's public-house.
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